May 22, 2009
By Ben Avey, CFAY Public Affairs
In order to be prepared for natural or man-made disasters
and emergencies, Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka
(CFAY) is urging all personnel to review their emergency
family action plan, update family emergency kits and take
other action to ensure they are prepared for all emergency
situations.
Operation Prepare. As a resource, families are
encouraged to go online and utilize “Operation Prepare,”
which is an emergency preparedness program initiated by
Commander Navy Installations Command for community
members of Navy ashore installations. The Web site has
nearly 40 simple ready-to-use fact sheets, checklists and
forms on how to prepare for a variety of natural and manmade
disasters. Visit the Web site www.cnic.navy.mil/
CNIC_HQ_Site/OpPrepare for more information.
Emergency Kit. According to Operation Prepare, you
need enough supplies for every family member for at least
three days, maybe longer. The main items to have in your kit
include water, food, and first aid supplies. Depending on
your family, you may also need special items for babies,
prescription medications, or supplies for your pets. You may
not be at home when disaster strikes, so make smaller
emergency kits to keep at work and in your car. You also
need a portable kit to take with you if you go to a shelter or
evacuate.
Family Plan. Operation Prepare states that when a
disaster happens, your family may not be together in one
place. You need to pick places to meet, have contact
information for everyone, and discuss in advance what you
will do during various types of emergencies. Depending on
the type of emergency, you may shelter in place, move to a
shelter or safe haven or evacuate. Formalizing your
preparations in a written family plan is a good way to ensure
everyone knows what to do when there is an emergency. Your
plan needs to take into account special concerns such as
caring for very young and very old family members,
protecting your property, retaining critical financial or
insurance records and caring for your pets.
If there is an emergency, families need to become active
in seeking out information and instructions through multiple
official sources which will include:
• CFAY Channel 12
• Eagle 810 AM Radio
• CFAY Website www.cnic.navy.mil/yokosuka
• City of Yokosuka disaster information e-mail service,
register for updates in English by e-mailing di-yokosukat@
ktaiwork.jp.
Emergencies can happen at any time, while at home, at
work or on leave. The following are basic instructions on
what to do in a few different scenarios. It is important to
note that CFAY emergency responders cannot help you, if
they don’t know where you are. If you are:
At Fleet Activities Yokosuka
• Stay in your home or go to the nearest base shelter.
• Initiate a family emergency plan.
• Tune in to American Forces Network (AFN) Eagle 810
radio, CFAY base channel 12 and the CFAY Web site for
emergency instructions.
At Negishi or Ikego housing detachments
• Stay in your home or go to the nearest safe place. Do
not leave the housing detachment unless instructed to do so
by emergency responders.
• Initiate family emergency plan.
• Tune in for emergency instructions.
• In case of evacuation, muster at Club Takemiya (Ikego)
and the Community Center (Negishi). CFAY vehicles will
bring you to Yokosuka.
Off base
• Go to the nearest safe place (home, shelter etc.) and
contact your command. A Japanese evacuation shelter near
your home is a safe place.
• If you attempt to move locations, tell someone or leave
a clearly visible note for CFAY emergency responders. CFAY
needs to be able to find you.
• CFAY will retrieve you once it is safe to do so.
• If you are near another U.S. military installation, go to
the installation and check in with the installation emergency
management personnel.